In case you needed more proof that House Republicans are closer to street thugs than political leaders, consider their tactics towards their own Republican colleague who heads the House Ethics Committee.
House ethics committee Chairman Joel Hefley (R-Colo.) said last week that Republican lawmakers have threatened him in the wake of his panel’s recent admonishments of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas).
Asked what response he has received from House Republicans since two ethics committee admonishments were issued in a span of seven days, Hefley said, “I’ve been attacked; I’ve been threatened.”
However, Hefley would not reveal who or how many of his colleagues had threatened him, or what retaliation had been threatened.
The irony is, of course, that Hefley did DeLay a relatively big favor. DeLay was up to his ears in corruption charges — all of which appeared to have serious merit — and Hefley let him get away with a simple committee reprimand. No real penalties; no lengthy and politically damaging investigation. It was, unfortunately, a slap on the wrist.
But for the House GOP, the fact that Hefley would even consider allowing his bi-partisan committee to take up the charges against DeLay leads to “attacks” and “threats” against one of their own.
In other words, congressional Republicans aren’t angry that the Ethics Committee rebuked DeLay; they’re angry the committee had the audacity to consider charges against DeLay in the first place. As far as they’re concerned, corruption among Republican lawmakers should go unnoticed and unchecked — and anyone who disagrees will be threatened.